Ten per cent of Facebook users have received abusive or insulting messages, a
new study has found.

The research, by Global Market Insite, claims to reveal the extent to which Facebook and Twitter are being used to send public or private ‘anti-social’ messages.

According to the findings, one in ten Facebook users have experienced someone posting insulting or abusive messages on their wall, or sending insulting, abusive or threatening private messages. This increases to one quarter of 18-24 year olds, but declines to 16 per cent of 25-34 year olds for insulting or abusive wall messages.

Most - 61 per cent - however say it has happened just once or twice, while eight per cent claim to receive ‘anti-social’ messages about once a month, and three per cent receive them a few times a month. A further three per cent say they have received more than five such messages in the past year.

In 62 per cent of cases, the insult came from people the recipient knows in real life, but 27 per cent said the perpetrator wasn't even on their Facebook friends list.

Two thirds responded by blocking the offender, while just over a quarter used the ‘Report’ link provided by Facebook. As well as taking advantage of the privacy settings (14 per cent), setting up a limited profile (six per cent), stopping using Facebook (five per cent) and closing their account (three per cent), a plucky 14 per cent asked the perpetrator to stop.

On Twitter only five per cent reported threatening, insulting or abusive tweets, although this is likely to be because half of all Twitter users say they have an account merely to follow others. Only three per cent of respondents say that they have been asked to delete a tweet.

Ralph Risk, Marketing Director Europe, said "In the virtual world of social media people may feel it is easy and anonymous to send insulting or abusive messages to other users. Our research shows that most people on Facebook are currently able to tackle the problem themselves using the technology provided. The strength of social media has always been the opportunity to easily connect and interact with friends and groups, but to ensure its continued flexibility is not restricted by legislation, it is important that the ability to limit exposure to insulting and abusive messages is simple for users to control themselves.”